- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Aug 1 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0446679178
- ISBN-13: 978-0446679176
- Product Dimensions: 15.2 x 2.9 x 22.9 cm
- Shipping Weight: 476 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #145,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
This retelling of the legendary Egyptian monarch's story opens when she is "three years old and she cannot speak even one sentence of passable Greek." All the familiar aspects of her life unfold with an emphasis on palace intrigues, royal excesses and scheming courtiers but Essex also highlights the young princess's prodigious talents for language, adventure and politics. In contrast to many authors who wish to humanize Kleopatra and focus only on her life as a woman, Essex chooses to explore her subject's absolute dedication to the political intrigues of her time, and her connection to Greek culture (hence the unusual spelling of her name). While the framework is familiar, her rendering of the ancient world's culture and political machinations make this fast-paced treatment of Kleopatra's adventures particularly engaging. Exhaustive research is evident throughout, in the form of intriguing minutiae such as a list of the exotic dishes at a banquet or meticulous descriptions of astounding displays during a pageant in honor of Dionysus. When Kleopatra's father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, is exiled to Rome, the young princess accompanies him, both literally and figuratively leaving behind her childhood in preparation for ruling Egypt. When she returns, she is named co-regent with her father, who dies shortly thereafter. She marries her half-brother and eventually raises an army with her cousin and lover, Archimedes. This volume ends with the young queen in exile, waiting for Julius Caesar; a sequel is in the works. Essex delivers a consistent and historically accurate reading of Kleopatra, and even those who think they know the queen will discover new facets of her life that will engage both the intellect and the senses. (Aug. 9)Forecast: Cleopatra junkies will snatch this up, but a captivating jacket and title should attract ancient-world neophytes, too.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.From Library Journal
Cleopatra, or Kleopatra as her name is spelled in Greek, inherited little from her father, Ptolemy XII, other than his Macedonian profile and the throne of Egypt. Where he was obese, indolent, and self-indulgent, the young queen was cunning, ambitious, and ruthless. Ptolemy, through gross mismanagement and a series of disastrous financial alliances with Rome, had alienated the Egyptian people to the point of rebellion. After his death, Kleopatra was exiled by her brother/husband and his cabinet. First novelist Essex focuses on Kleopatra's early years (the book ends when she is 22 years old and meeting Julius Caesar for the first time) and on her Greek origins. The Greek-speaking Ptolemy pharaohs neither knew nor cared about the customs of Egypt, but Kleopatra learned the Egyptian language, something no Ptolemy had done before. In return, the Egyptians gave her their support in her struggle to wrest the throne from her brother. Essex's Kleopatra is a more approachable woman than the Cleopatra of Colin Falconer's When We Were Gods (LJ 10/1/00), and her abundant youthful audacity and confidence are appealing compared with Falconer's powerful, controlled ruler. Yet the two novels together create a complete portrait of the child, the woman, and the queen. Recommended for most historical fiction collections. Jane Baird, Anchorage Municipal Libs., AK
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
There was something about the air in Alexandria. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
There was something about the air in Alexandria. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Historical Fiction,
By A Customer
This review is from: Kleopatra (Paperback)
This is a fabulous read. Beautifully researched andrespectful of the audience.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read for a "Closet" Egyptologist,
By
This review is from: Kleopatra (Paperback)
First, if one purchases this novel, purchase "Pharaoh, Volume II" along with it. Because you will want to continue your reading immediately after you complete this one. Everyone has heard the stories about Kleopatra and her life. Karen Essex takes those stories and writes them in a way that you feel you are there actually observing it. Kleopatra (spelled in the Greek version) was the most powerful woman in the world during her time. She put no limits on her life or ambitions. In a family (the Ptolemies) that merely used Egypt as a playground Kleopatra focused on its greatness.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous Retelling of History . . .,
By A Customer
This review is from: Kleopatra (Paperback)
I read this in one sitting and I find myself back on Amazon.com buying the next volume. This book was both entertaining and illuminating. As history, it doesn't "preach" about documented events, it doesn't over analyze the significance or importance of these events -- they just happen to the story of Kleopatra. This makes the story seem more of a novel, as opposed to simply a retelling of history. As fiction, the story is magnificantly told. The author draws the reader in from the very beginning, weaving a complex web that only gets deeper and deeper. I am looking forward to the second volume! (And third? Fourth?)
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
